Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
16
Decision Support Systems in Agriculture:
Administration of Meteorological Data, Use of
Geographic Information Systems(GIS)
and Validation Methods in Crop
Protection Warning Service
Racca Paolo, Kleinhenz Benno, Zeuner Thorsten,
Keil Barbara, Tschöpe Beate and Jung Jeanette
ZEPP-Central Institution for Decision Support Systems in Crop Protection
Rüdesheimerstr Kreuznach
Germany
1. Introduction
The mission of the Central Institution for Decision Support Systems (DSS) in Crop
Protection (German acronym ZEPP) is to develop, collect and examine existing forecasting
and simulation models for important agricultural and horticultural pests and diseases and
to adapt these models for practical use. More than 40 weather-based forecasting models for
pests and diseases have been successfully developed within the last years. The occurrence of
diseases/pests and periods of high-intensity attacks can be calculated with high accuracy.
The forecast models are based on different concepts. These range from simple temperature
sum models to complex population matrices with integrated rate based algorithms to
calculate growth, reproduction and distribution of noxious organisms.
DSS are employed for the
estimation of disease/pest risk
estimation of the necessity for pesticide treatments
forecast of the optimal timing for field assessments
forecast of the optimal timing for pesticide treatments
recommendation of appropriate pesticides.
Results of DSS are distributed to the farmers via warning services, using different
transmission media (bulletins, letters, faxes and telephone answering machines) and via the
internet platform www.isip.de (Information System for Integrated Plant Production)
(Röhrig & Sander, 2004). The predictions are suitable for integrated as well as organic
farming.
In the following chapter the three basic parts that lead to the creation of a comprehensive
and modern DSS for forecasting and warning in integrated crop protection will be
analysed. Meteorological data are needed as well as assessed field data as input for
decision support systems. With these input data the decision support systems calculate an
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